Ophiorrhiza meghalayensis Hareesh, A.Joe, M.Sabu & L.Wu, 2017

Hareesh, Vadakkoot Sankaran, Lei, Wu, Joe, Alfred & Sabu, Mamiyil, 2017, Ophiorrhiza meghalayensis (Rubiaceae: Ophiorrhizeae), a new species from Meghalaya, North-East India, Phytotaxa 307 (4), pp. 297-300 : 299

Ophiorrhiza meghalayensis Hareesh, A.Joe, M.Sabu & L.Wu , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

Ophiorrhiza meghalayensis is similar to O. caudipetala , but differs from the latter in its terete stem (vs. quadrangular or ridged), flowers homostylous (vs. heterostylous), corolla throat without villous ring within (vs. with villous ring) and deeply keeled corolla lobes on the back (vs. with 0.5–1.5 mm long horn). It also resembles O. hirsutula , but can be distinguished from the latter by the triangular calyx lobes (vs. ovate-lanceolate), narrowly infundibuliform corolla (vs. broadly infundibuliform), without villous ring within (vs. with villous ring) and deeply keeled corolla lobes on the back (vs. non-keeled).

Type:— INDIA. Meghalaya: East Khasi district, Shillong, on the way to Shillong Peak , 27 June 2016, V. S. Hareesh & A. Joe 143722 (holotype CALI!; isotypes CAL!, CALI!) .

Decumbent herb, 15–50 cm tall; stem branched, terete, pubescent, pale green; internodes 2–3.5 cm long. Stipules ovateacuminate, entire, 8–13 mm long, acute, pubescent, persistent. Petioles 1.5–3 cm long, slender, pubescent; leaf blades ovate, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 5–12 × 2–4.5 cm, attenuate at base, caudate acuminate at apex, sparsely pubescent above; secondary veins 8–10 each side, puberulous below. Inflorescence terminal; rachis pubescent; peduncle 2–2.5 cm long in flowering stage and elongated up to 5 cm long in fruiting stage, pubescent, pale green; bract and bracteoles similar, linearlanceolate to filiform, 5–8 mm long, puberulous, persistent. Pedicels 1–1.5 mm long in flowering stage and elongated up to 2.5 mm long in fruiting stage, pubescent. Flowers 8–11 mm long, densely hirsute. Hypanthium obovoid, 1.4–1.8 × 2–2.3 mm. Calyx lobes triangular, 0.6–0.8 × 0.4–0.5 mm, pale rose or pale green, acute, pubescent, glabrous on adaxial side. Corolla cylindrical, 7–8 mm long, white, densely hirsute outside and pubescent above the attachment of stamen and glabrous at base within; lobes ovate, 2.5–3 × 1.5–1.75 mm, acute, prominently keeled on back, spreading, densely hirsute. Stamens inserted near the base of the corolla tube; filaments 1.5–1.75 mm long, glabrous, white; anthers oblong-linear, 1.3–1.5 mm long, pale yellow; style filiform, 1–1.25 mm long, glabrous; style branches 2, linear-oblong, ca. 1.25 mm long, pubescent. Capsule obcordate in outline, 3.5–4 × 6.5–8 mm, densely pubescent, green. Seeds small, angular, numerous, pale yellow to brown.

Flowering and fruiting: — From April to October.

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to Meghalaya, the state in which the new species was collected.

Distribution: — Ophiorrhiza meghalayensis is known only from Shillong Peak, Meghalaya, North-East India.

Ecology:— Until now, a total of 50 individuals were observed though search expended, which reveals that the species is probably endemic in this area. The new species growing along the roadside on the way to Shillong peak in association with Amomum Roxburgh (1820: 75) sp. , Artemisia Linnaeus (1753b: 845) sp. , Melastoma malabathricum Linnaeus (1753c: 390) , Premna Linnaeus (1771: 587) sp. , etc.

Conservation status: — Our personal observation reveals that the new species is confined to Shillong Peak. However, more explorations are essential to understand its distribution and assessment of conservation status as per the guidelines and criteria of IUCN (2012). According to the available data, the species should be treated as ‘Data Deficient’ (DD).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ophiorrhiza meghalayensis. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence top view. C. Inflorescence side view. D. Infructescence. E. Stipule. F. Bract. G. Flower bud. H. Corolla. I. Corolla-split open. J. Hypanthium, calyx, and style. K. Capsule. Photos by V.S. Hareesh.